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EPISODE 290: Olden Times, Grit, & The Way Things Used To Be with Grandpa Joe

On this episode of Gritty Bowmen I interview my Grandfather, Joe Lane. My Grandfather is nearly 90 years of age and his time on this earth is almost over. Every human being travels the road of life. And in my estimation, the best humans among us are the ones who travel their road with moral fortitude--the best among us are those who love the best they can. I know this might come across as fairytale-ish to some, but I truly believe this to be so.

My Grandpa Joe has never been a perfect man. But I can say with certainty that he has always loved; and although that love maybe imperfect, it’s always been at the heart of who he wants and strives to be and he has modeled well for me how a man should love and cherish his wife. And what higher endeavor can a man aspire to than to love and reduce suffering in the world? There are those in this world who honestly “TRY” to be a good person. And there are those who make no effort at all to be “good.” My grandfather is the former--and for that I am deeply grateful. My Grandpa has always been a prominent figure in my life. He’s always been a strong man. A man of grit and determination. He’s honestly one of the most physically tough human beings I’ve ever met. Growing up during the Great Depression and in a state of abject poverty he was hardened and forever shaped by the rigors of his youth and on this podcast, myself, my sister, Katie and her husband Bryce talk with my Grandfather about his interesting and diverse life. Things aren’t like they used to be. We’ve traded root cellars for refrigerators and horses for cars. We have smart phones and iPads. And very few of us are in danger of starving to death or dying from Scarlet Fever. So take a listen to this long conversation and then stop complaining about the traffic, or your job, or how things aren’t fair because they could be a whole lot worse. In the words of Jordan B. Peterson, “Pick up your damn suffering and bear it. And try to be a good person so you don’t make it worse.” Because, “Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake.”

In other words, man is self-determining AND life has meaning. So act like it. Live a life that is intrinsically good and worth remembering.